Critical message from Selçuk İnan ahead of Galatasaray match: 'If we play an aggressive game...'

In the 28th week of the Trendyol Super League, Kocaelispor drew goalless with Başakşehir, whom they hosted on their home turf. Evaluating the game after the match, Kocaelispor Manager Selçuk İnan also answered questions from members of the press. İnan said, "Now that the league is drawing to a close, with 6 matches left, getting a point from such a match was—to be honest—important for us. Our players fulfilled almost exactly what we prepared for the match on the pitch. I am pleased with their performance and their struggle. I want to congratulate them once again. We were the side closer to winning the match. We had very clear positions. If one of the two positions in the final minutes had resulted in a goal, we would have left with a victory today. It didn't happen, but I think 1 point is important against such a good team, a team built with individually good players," he said.

"OUR GOALKEEPER IN THE BEST FORM RIGHT NOW IS SERHAT"

Regarding his choice of Serhat Öztaşdelen in goal, Selçuk İnan said, "I try to coach without looking at names. Serhat is a goalkeeper I trust very much. I trust his talents a lot. I gave him the chance because Serhat is the goalkeeper in the best form right now. I think he evaluated it very well. He is a very talented and very high-character player," he stated.

"BEING BOOED BY YOUR OWN FANS IS NOT SOMETHING EASY TO OVERCOME"

Responding to a question about the reactions shown by the stands toward Can Keleş, Tayfur Bingöl, and Darko Churlinov, as well as the calls for the management to resign, the young manager said, "I love our fans very much. I have great respect for them. The support and love they give me is priceless. That is why I am honored. In the face of their love and support, the responsibility on my shoulders increases manifold. Along with this, my players feel perhaps 10 times what I feel toward the fans. They are trying to fight for them. Our league is very difficult. There are very good teams and budgets. There are many parameters. I think being in 8th place with 34 points at this time of the league is a great success. Our fans are very sensible. But sometimes people can forget things, they want more and higher. I can understand this. Because I am like that too. While wanting this, it is very simple to break and destroy. We shouldn't do this. The audience of big communities can be as powerful as they can sometimes be the opposite. Ultimately, we are all human and we have feelings. Being booed by your own fans is not a situation that is easy to overcome. My request to my fans; my players are doing their best for them. We all want success. But our current situation in the league is a success. The only thing I want from them is; support. Let them not take in the bad. Evil is contagious. The voices of those who think negatively are louder in every sense, the good ones remain silent. Let's not allow this. We built a team under very difficult conditions. You all witnessed it. Those who came, those who left, those who were late, penalties, financial difficulties. We all put in a lot of effort. None of us deserve the reaction. We are all striving to pull Kocaelispor up. My humble request from our fans is this; we are strong with them," he said.

"IF WE PLAY AN AGGRESSIVE GAME IN THE GALATASARAY MATCH..."

Regarding questions about the Galatasaray match, specifically concerning Bruno Petkovic, Selçuk İnan said, "Bruno wanted to be with us today, thank you to him. He trained once, it was also risky. He wanted to be with his teammates. We warmed him up. We will evaluate according to that. It is not easy against Galatasaray in that stadium. I know they perhaps have no defeats at home this season. We will play against a strong team, one of the best teams in the league. As one of those who knows the atmosphere best; we will go out there and fight. We know Galatasaray's strengths. We will work. If we display the right stance and an aggressive game, we will strive to take points. We will all see this together. No matter which match we go out to, regardless of the opponent, we try to hold onto the game and play our game. The Galatasaray match is one of those matches. It will also be an emotional match for me. I spent a large part of my life there. I achieved important successes. I was a captain, I was a coach. I am impatient to be there. I think it will be a beautiful match," he expressed.

"WE NEED TO INCREASE THE SPEED OF THE GAME AND GET YOUNGER"

Regarding the signals he gave about the next season concerning his choice of young players, Kocaelispor Manager Selçuk İnan noted, "You have started to see it. You will see it from now on as well. We are fighting well. We have made great progress as a team defense. At the same time, we also have offensive problems. We will criticize ourselves on this issue. We need to increase the speed of the game and get younger. Game dynamism is important for us. These are not things that will happen in one transfer period. Conditions do not form easily. You will continue to see a few changes from now on," he recorded.